Nebraska Beach 2017

[vup]

Schedule & Roster:

Schedule: Beach Volleyball - 2017 Schedule
Roster: Nebraska Beach Volleyball - 2017 Roster


Preview:

Nebraska's key returnee on the beach from last season will be Kelly Hunter, who made the No. 1 pair last season, as well as Justine Wong-Orantes, who was apart of the No. 2 pair last season. Hunter and Wong-Orantes are a solid pick to make up the No. 1 pair this year, while anything beyond that remains a mystery. The Huskers lose Briana Holman this beach season (reasons unknown at this point), but we also gain Andie Malloy. Rounding out the returning lineup from last season are Boender, Albrecht, Foecke, Maloney, Townsend, Reeves, and Smith. Newcomers will include redshirt freshmen Atherton, Stivrins, and (possibly) Ratzlaff. 


Updated Projection:

No. 1 | Hunter/Wong-Orantes
• This is very likely to be the No. 1 pairing. This pair may lack a bit in height, but they make up for it in their ball control and volleyball IQ. Opponents' strategies will be to serve Wong-Orantes, but Justine has the shots to produce points.

No. 2 | Albrecht/Boender
• Moving up from the No. 3 pair last year, Boender/Albrecht is my pick for the No. 2 spot this year. This pair should be a solid all-around pair. Both players possess good skills in ball control, as well as hitting. 

No. 3 | Malloy/Maloney
• With Holman out, filling in Malloy for Bri seems like the natural decision, at the very least in order not to shake things up too much. Holman/Maloney were successful together last year, and I'd expect Maloney to stay where she is. Malloy is unproven, but she has experience passing in indoor, which should translate to the beach well.

No. 4 | Atherton/Stivrins
• The dynamic frosh could see time in the No. 4 spot this year, IMO. With a good combination of height and athleticism, this pair could be a real threat not only to compete, but also to move up.

No. 5 | Foecke/Townsend
• I moved Foecke/Townsend down a spot based on where they were starting last season. I'd expect a similar role from them as last year, switching off with Reeves/Smith in the exhibition match.

Alternates: Reeves/Smith
• Smith and Reeves both saw time last beach season starting in the No. 5 spot or in the exhibition match. I'd expect both of them to be in the same role as last year. 



Go Big Red!!!  

[trollhunter]

"Like past seasons, Nebraska likely will not participate in post-season play."

Not sure if Nebraska ever had a good enough record to qualify under AVCA anyways, but they chose in advance not to play in that optional post-season event.

Now that NCAA is sponsoring the championship (starting last season), they no longer have that choice. If they play the minimum number of matches and are selected for the NCAA championship, they must go.

[vbct3]

Jan 18, 2017 11:20:37 GMT -5 trollhunter said:

"Like past seasons, Nebraska likely will not participate in post-season play."

Not sure if Nebraska ever had a good enough record to qualify under AVCA anyways, but they chose in advance not to play in that optional post-season event.

Now that NCAA is sponsoring the championship (starting last season), they no longer have that choice. If they play the minimum number of matches and are selected for the NCAA championship, they must go.

They play the bare minimum events possible over spring break. They practice in a one court facility (as far as I remember). And I'm sure the beach team's success is extremely secondary if not a tertiary thought for the coaching staff there. I can't imagine the coaching staff puts much thought into post season play.

[geddyleeridesagain]

Why is Justine asterisked, so to speak? Injury? Deciding to pass up her senior season and keep training indoor?

Have they released a schedule yet?

Malloy is on the roster, I would think she might get some run if she is indeed on the team.

Even if JWO plays, that roster is going to get slaughtered by the likes of USC/UCLA. But Nebraska could beat some 2nd tier programs, like ASU or LMU.

[vup]

Jan 18, 2017 13:41:02 GMT -5 geddyleeridesagain said:

Why is Justine asterisked, so to speak? Injury? Deciding to pass up her senior season and keep training indoor?

Have they released a schedule yet?

Malloy is on the roster, I would think she might get some run if she is indeed on the team.

Even if JWO plays, that roster is going to get slaughtered by the likes of USC/UCLA. But Nebraska could beat some 2nd tier programs, like ASU or LMU.

I asterisked her because I wasn't sure what her plans are with indoor (going pro, training with USA). As for Malloy, I was totally remiss not to include her. My apologies. 

The official schedule has not yet been released, but the roster just came out today, and Justine and Malloy are included. From the schedule thread, here's what I gather:

3-16 | USC | TBA (Honolulu, HI - Chaminade Pairs Tournament)
3-17 | USC | 11:30 a.m. HT (Honolulu, HI - Outrigger Hawaii Invitational)
3-17 | Hawaii | 2:00 p.m. HT (Honolulu, HI - Outrigger Hawaii Invitational)
3-20 | Hawaii | 4:00 p.m. HT (Ching Complex)
3-24 | Grand Canyon | 9:30 a.m. MST (Phoenix, AZ)
3-25 | Arizona State | 3:00 p.m. MST (Tempe, AZ)

IIRC, Nebraska was very close to beating Hawaii last year, despite losing 4-1. Our No. 1 and 3 pairs both went three sets and both of the third sets were close. We may get slaughtered at some point in the season, but I don't see any team overlooking us. 

[FreeBall]

The linked roster does not include Holman. Any thoughts regarding her status?

[vup]

Jan 18, 2017 17:38:16 GMT -5 FreeBall said:

The linked roster does not include Holman. Any thoughts regarding her status?

I can only offer speculation at this point, but it could be a variety of things. The beach season can be draining, especially after a long season of indoor. Doing both can be hard, physically, mentally, and emotionally. It could be that she just needs a break, whether that's to better prepare for the indoor season, give her body a rest, or she just wants to take, well, a break. Then, it could also have something to do with school, whether that means grades specifically, or she just needs a little more time to focus on her work.

Even though our season is much shorter than other beach teams, we still train hard at it for months. Plus, our schedule includes a trip to Hawaii and few stops along the West coast. I can imagine the travel could be difficult for some, and it doesn't help that the week we're gone is during spring break, so our players are getting very little time off during the semester.

[oldmanred]

I didn't notice Ratzlaff's picture on the roster; anybody have any input?

GO HUSKERS

[FreeBall]

Jan 19, 2017 17:00:53 GMT -5 oldmanred said:

I didn't notice Ratzlaff's picture on the roster; anybody have any input?

There was speculation on the Nebraska 2017 thread that she is not coming back to the indoor team. If that is true, I don't imagine she would be on the beach team either.

[vup]

[paidlive]

Perhaps if nothing else Ne. could thicken up their sand. Order for more mobility and a greater workout.

[vup]

Schedule is posted

www.huskers.com/SportSelect.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=100&SPID=123508&SPSID=732111&DB_OEM_ID=100

[FreeBall]

I see you updated the original post, which now includes the following sentence:

The Huskers lose Briana Holman this beach season (reasons unknown at this point), but we also gain Andie Malloy.

However, you still have Holman included as part of your projected pairings. Do you see Malloy slipping into the pair with Maloney? Or, do you think there will be more significant mixing and matching of players after the 1st and 2nd pairs?

[vup]

Jan 23, 2017 17:57:08 GMT -5 FreeBall said:

I see you updated the original post, which now includes the following sentence:

The Huskers lose Briana Holman this beach season (reasons unknown at this point), but we also gain Andie Malloy.

However, you still have Holman included as part of your projected pairings. Do you see Malloy slipping into the pair with Maloney? Or, do you think there will be more significant mixing and matching of players after the 1st and 2nd pairs?

First things first, I overlooked something in my original projection: Reeves/Smith made a few appearances in the No. 5 spot last year, while Foecke/Townsend played in the exhibition match, which changes my view of how things will shake up. 

It's hard to say where the chips will fall, but for now, I'll go ahead and project Malloy/Maloney at No. 3. I can see the 3rd and 4th pairs mixing and matching between Malloy, Maloney, Atherton, and Stivrins, but nothing too significant probably. 


Here would be my updated projection:

No. 1 | Hunter/Wong-Orantes
No. 2 | Albrecht/Boender
No. 3 | Malloy/Maloney
No. 4 | Atherton/Stivrins
No. 5 | Foecke/Townsend
Alternates: Reeves/Smith

[vup]